SPECIAL NOTICE
D -- USDA Forest Service Request For Information - DRAFT PWS and Attachmentx
- Notice Date
- 12/13/2012
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 541511
— Custom Computer Programming Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, WO-AQM IT Support, Albuquerque Service Center, Pan American Bldg, Suite 200, 101 B Sun Ave NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87109, United States
- ZIP Code
- 87109
- Solicitation Number
- WOAQMITRFI007
- Point of Contact
- Robert Hinton, Phone: 5055637248
- E-Mail Address
-
rhinton@fs.fed.us
(rhinton@fs.fed.us)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- FHTET DRAFT Performance Work Statment and preliminary attachments USDA Forest Service Request for Information (RFI) for the Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team (FHTET) 13 December 2012 This RFI is for information purposes only and shall not be construed as a commitment or a promise of a contract by the Government. This is not a request for quotations. This notice does not constitute a Request for Bid, Request for Quote or Request for Proposal, nor does it restrict the Government as to the ultimate acquisition approach. 1. PURPOSE The US Forest Services, Washington Office (WO) Acquisition Management (AQM), Information Technology (IT) Support Branch is conducting a market analysis with this RFI to refine the requirement and determine the most suitable approach for acquiring and fulfilling the needs for core IT support services that address both field and WO support for low to moderate risk technology tasks in support of the Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team program. The information collected in this RFI will be used to define the government's requirements and create the appropriate acquisition strategy. Responding to this RFI does not automatically include the responder on any bidders list, if such a list is developed. Depending on the quantity and quality of the responses received, the criteria may serve to generate the initial pool of potential contractors to be invited to respond to a resulting solicitation. WO AQM-IT Support Branch is interested in collecting information on industry capabilities in the following task areas: • Project Management-core services • Communication Support-core services • Computer System Management-core services • Geospatial Data and Software Development and Maintenance-core services • Forest Health Technology Knowledge Transfer-core services • Natural Resource Data Analysis, Modeling and Reporting-core services • Rapid web-based geospatial application development-non core services • Innovative technological solutions-non core services • Development of Enterprise GIS systems and new geospatial data models-non core services • Agile software development-non core services • Innovative signal and imaging processing techniques for Remote Sensing-non core services • HTML5 development to support mobile smartphones, tablets, and desktop applications-non core services • Innovative statistical analyses for forest pest modeling-non core services • Mobile computing based data capture technology-non core services  A primary example of non-core service output is the current FHTET portal (http://foresthealth.fs.usda.gov) and its modules: o Alien Forest Pest Explorer o Forest Pest Conditions o Exotic Forest Pests (ExFor) o Forest Disturbance Mapper o California Insect and Disease Database (Forest Pest Observations) o Forest Pest Data Summaries  Typical examples of potential future non-core service projects: o Development of a new tablet based forest insect and disease survey hardware and software system that meets the needs of aerial and ground based surveys. o Development of a new standard data model for national level grid based evaluation and analysis. o Development of pre-visual insect and disease mortality detection methods. 2. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND The Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team (FHTET) has a requirement for technology development and support services. The technology involved covers multiple disciplines in an integrated fashion including forest entomology and pathology, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, database and software development, forest biometry, climate change and carbon cycling, geospatial modeling techniques, computer systems development, and project management. FHTET is a detached Washington Office Unit located in Fort Collins, Colorado that offers natural resources and forest health technology development and technology knowledge transfer services to Forest Health Protection (FHP) Units and cooperators nationwide. In order to support a wide array of technology development and transfer efforts, various integrated natural resource and computer systems technologies must be developed and maintained including but not limited to; computer systems, data collection devices, display devices, geospatial models, specialized commercial off the shelf (COTS) and custom web and desktop software applications and analysis. The users of these technologies are a small highly specialized group. This group includes entomologists and pathologists from state forestry organizations, Federal partners, and natural resource specialists from a wide array of universities and non-Governmental organizations. The technologies developed and maintained require a close integration with associated forest health disciplines. This reliance is exemplified by FHTET's close working relationship with strategic issues in the Washington Office, and tactical issues with the field organizations. The specific technologies developed or transferred include hardware, software, databases, websites, methods, analyses, risk and hazard assessments, and information which are based upon USFS strategic direction and are consistent with USFS objectives for ecosystem management, forest health initiatives, and services to state and private forestry cooperators. Projects undertaken are frequently at different phases of the technology development life cycle. Most projects are accomplished through groups of specialists and cooperators representing diverse subject areas. A high level of interactivity and coordination is required among projects, which often cross a wide range of disciplines. Project staff may be composed exclusively of Federal employees or a mixture of Federal, state, other cooperators, and contractor employees. Ability to objectively communicate information and exchange ideas is important for both Federal project managers and contractors assigned to specific tasks. This RFI is being used to receive feedback/comments on the attached PWS and to develop an acquisition strategy that will ensure that the Forest Service is able to make informed set-aside recommendations as well as receive best value offers once a solicitation for this requirement is developed. 3. OVERVIEW OF CAPABILITIES The Forest Service requires achievement of the following: • Technology development and knowledge transfer efforts that support Forest Service professional and technical staff in carrying out mission-orientated activities. • Consistent, stable support for FHTET enhances mission-oriented activities and outcomes. • Innovative solutions are developed for ad hoc requests of FHTET. 4. QUESTIONS Questions regarding this announcement shall be submitted in writing by e-mail to the Contracting Officer; rhinton@fs.fed.us. Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. Questions will be answered by posting answers to the fedbizopps site; questions shall NOT contain proprietary or classified information. The Government does not guarantee that questions received after 28 December 2012 4pm EST will be answered. To access the fedbizopps.gov website, go to https://www.fbo.gov to view other important information related to this RFI. Vendors can electronically respond to RFIs, directly through the web site for those notices which have the Bid Module enabled by the buyer. Format: Comments can be incorporated into the PWS and identified within the document, please highlight your comments to easily be identified. Question should be on a separate page with vendors identification/contact information. The Draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) for the FHTET IT Support Services is enclosed for review and comment. Offerors are encouraged to provide comments/suggestions to the PWS and Performance Standards. In addition please reference RFI : WOAQMITRFI007 for information pertaining to the potential future non-core project that includes: • Development of a new tablet based forest insect and disease survey hardware and software system that meets the needs of aerial and ground based surveys. • Development of a new standard data model for national level grid based evaluation and analysis. • Development of pre-visual insect and disease mortality detection methods. Input/recommendations are requested by 28 DEC 2012 5. SUMMARY THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY to identify sources that can provide FHTET. The information provided in the RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. The USFS has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed, and release of this RFI should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USDA/FS/WOAQMITS/WOAQMITRFI007/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: TBD, United States
- Record
- SN02948083-W 20121215/121213234215-366bba616cb8611018b716db18f7dc02 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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